A celebration of life for Alva “Buck” Graves, age 86, will be held on Monday, July 29 at 2 p.m. at Ingram Funeral Home in Quinlan, Texas.
Buck went home to the Lord on Monday, July 22 surrounded by his loving family. He was born on Friday, October 29, 1937, to parents Audie Graves and Alva (Nelson) Graves in Dallas and was raised in surrounding areas. He attended N. Dallas High School where he played Baseball and football. During his senior year, he began attending Irving High School and played for their baseball team. He went to college at Arlington State College where he studied to be a physicist for two years. Buck met the love of his life, Lena Carole Bland, and married her on July 1, 1959. Together they had two beautiful daughters. Throughout his life, Buck realized that his love for people could help him when he joined the men’s fellowship group at his United Methodist church where they would build ramps for the needy. He joined organizations such as the Blue Lodge Masons #705 in Oak Cliff, TX, and the RV Club with the First United Methodist church. Traveling took them to many places such as the Grapeland Texas Music Festival, Thousand Trails, and multiple other RV camps. He was a proud member of the United Methodist Church where he held several positions such as being the Lay leader, chair of finance, and trustee and he was part of the choir. He found that the love of Christ could be found in anything, whether it be the Jesus fish that he made with his woodworking skills, reading Christian Westerns, or just looking at the serenity surrounding him as he went camping and fishing. He loved to golf and watch old westerns featuring John Wayne. He enjoyed the mystery of genealogy and would get a thrill out of finding more information about long-lost family members. Buck also found that he had a knack for drawing and painting crafts during his painting classes.
Buck leaves behind his wife of 65 years, Carole Graves; daughters Terry Lee Huffman and Tracie Lin Birlew, husband Daniel; siblings, Melvin Graves, wife Ann, and Shirley Armstrong; grandchildren, Joshual Allen Jenkins, wife Chelsea Marie, Jacob Lee Huffman, Erin Lin Malone, and husband Rodney, Jamie Noel Briggs and Kelsey Lee Briggs; great-grandchildren, Ezra, Owen and Lenora. He also leaves behind his k9 kids: Brandy, Buddy, and Brody Graves.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to First United Methodist Church at 1555 E. Quinlan Pkwy, Quinlan, Texas 75474.
